“Kate!” Sylvia cried. She sat in a plush chair in the middle of the suite’s living room as bridesmaids, hair dressers and photographers bunched around her. Kate gave Sylvia a hug as the hair dresser pinned up the last few curls.
“You look beautiful,” Kate said. She always said that to a bride, but she didn’t always mean it. This time though, she did. Sylvia was radiant – her hair was piled on top of her head in a sophisticated collection of curls and twists, the bodice of her dress gave her an even smaller waist, and her make-up was light and fresh.
“Thanks, Kate. I really appreciate everything you’ve done – and Graham does too. Whatever happens, you’ve done a wonderful job. I’m sure the wedding is going to be perfect.” Sylvia smiled, but the corner of her mouth turned down just slightly.
“Don’t be nervous, everything is going to go wonderfully. I promise.” Kate said. She was more than used to wedding day jitters.
From the aisle, Kate watched as the groomsmen, then Jacob, and then Graham walked up the aisle and waited for the bridesmaids and Sylvia. Kate smiled at Jacob, who looked even better today than he did the last time she saw him in a tux. After the ceremony, he escorted Mary down the aisle. Kate caught his eye and he looked from Kate to Mary, and winked.
She then slipped out the side door, skipping the receiving line in order to make it to the reception a bit before the bride and groom arrived. Sylvia and Graham would be busy with pictures for about an hour and a half, and then cocktail hour started. She wanted one last check of the reception hall and also one last sprucing up of herself. She had changed into a cocktail dress and heels, but there hadn’t been that much time to do her own hair and make-up because she was trying to attend to Sylvia.
She pulled her hair up into a loose chignon and dusted blush over her cheeks and her décolletage.
I’m almost done as wedding planner, and soon can just be the date.
She put on a second coat of mascara, texted Rachelle for a final update on the reception hall, and went out to find Jacob.
He was holding two glasses of champagne, and leaning against one of the tables in the cocktail area.
Flowers, champagne, last minute band bookings when I need them -- I could get used to this.
Kate went over and took a glass of champagne from his hand. “Hey there, handsome,” she said, feeling flirty and free now that she was no longer the wedding planner.
“Kate,” Jacob said. “Did you get my message?” He glanced behind her.
“I saw that you called, but I haven’t had time to check my messages,” she took a sip of champagne and noticed that Jacob was looking more and more uncomfortable. “Is something wrong with the band? Are they not coming?”
Crap, I knew the milk was a bad sign.
“No, no. The band is here and ready to play.”
“Then what is it?” Kate asked.
A woman in a gorgeous blue dress and perfectly blown out red hair came up behind Jacob and put her arm around him.
“Jake, do you want to introduce me?” she said, as she took the other champagne glass out of his hand.
“Uh, Kate, this is Sarah. She’s my, um, date for the night. Sarah, this is Kate, the wedding planner.”
Sarah reached out her hand for a shake. “Oh, you’ve done a brilliant job! Everything is really lovely.”
“Thanks,” Kate mumbled, as she tried very hard not to glare at Jake. Date for the night? What the hell is going on here?
Kate chugged the last two inches of champagne in her glass, and excused herself with some lame talk about work and the bride needing her.
“Seems kinda uptight,” she heard Sarah say to Jacob on her way towards the door.
She texted Shiloh. “Guess who brought a date to the wedding… Sorry, I mean SECOND date to the wedding.”
Kate made sure to stay as far away from the bridal party as she possibly could for the remainder of the night. She finally made her way towards the back door when it was clear that the reception was going off without a hitch (well, at least for the bride and groom) and the party was starting to thin. She caught Sylvia by the bar and gave her another hug and congratulations before stepping out into the night air.
“I’m so sorry,” she heard a male voice say behind her. She turned around, and there was Jacob, with a cigarette dangling from his lips.
“Don’t worry about it,” Kate said. Asshole.
“I had invited her when we were still together, and she was talking to Sylvia about the wedding. I didn’t know what to do. She thought—“
“It’s fine,” Kate said. She dug her keys from her purse, barely looking at him.
“We’re not getting back together,” Jacob said. “I was excited to come to the wedding with you.”
Kate looked up at Jacob. His face was starting to show the same warmth as it had the other night – the larger eyes, the half smile.
Well, it could be true… Kate thought.
“Sarah and I are just friends. I promise.” Jacob said. He moved closer to Kate, and she didn’t pull away. Suddenly, she heard a shriek.
“What are you doing out here?!” yelled Sarah, who was barreling towards them as if she was in a pair of sneakers and not a pair of three inch heels.
“Nothing,” Jacob said. “Don’t worry about it.”
Kate broke away from Jacob, extended her hand to both, and said goodnight.
On her way back to the house, she called Shiloh.
“Come over. Bring wine.”
Turn the page for a sneak peek at the next episode in the Kate Gets Bridal series, Rachelle Says No by Ann Marie Fox.
Chapter 1
Rachelle jumped in her Honda Civic and made her way to the office. The last few days at work had been tough. She knew Kate was disappointed about the two-timing wedding date at Sylvia and Graham’s wedding, but she couldn’t quite tell why.
She seemed interested, but not in love?
Rachelle smiled. Love.
She and Brian had started dating shortly after she graduated college. She knew he was the one. He completely understood her – he knew what made her angry, and knew how to cheer her up. He would listen when she needed to talk, but would give her space when she wanted to be left alone. He constantly did little things to let her know that he cared. She felt like the luckiest girl in the world.
And the sex is good too, she thought, reveling in the night before.
Rachelle pulled into her regular parking space and jumped out of the car. On the sidewalk, she saw a collection of rose petals that formed a line to the front door of Kate Gets Bridal.
This is it, she thought. This is finally it!
Table of Contents
Start
Kate Gets Bridal Page 3
